EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Caleb Sturgis‘ third field goal, a 26-yarder with 1:57 left, lifted the Miami Dolphins to a come-from-behind, 16-13 win over the New York Jets on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.
With the win, the Dolphins (7-5) moved into a six-way tie for the second wild card in the AFC. However, Miami is currently in a playoff position by virtue of tiebreakers.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill set up the winning score with 18- and 17-yard completions to tight end Dion Sims during an eight-play, 57-yard drive.
Tannehill finished 25 of 35 for 235 yards with one interception. Miami running back Lamar Miller had 13 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown.
The Jets fell to 2-10 despite rushing for 277 yards on 49 carries, including 105 yards on 17 attempts by running back Chris Johnson. However, quarterback Geno Smith (seven of 13 for 65 yards with one interception) was a complete non-factor, and usually reliable kicker Nick Folk missed two of four field-goal attempts.
Smith directed the Jets to their own 44-yard line in the final minute, but his pass over the middle glanced off the chest of tight end Jeff Cumberland and into the hands of Dolphins safety Reshad Jones.
The Jets jumped out to a 10-0 lead. They did all they could to keep the ball out of Smith’s hands by calling 29 rushes and just six passes in a first half that ended with New York nursing a 10-3 advantage.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter, so New York led 13-6 heading to the final quarter.
Jets wide receiver Saalim Hakim was flagged for holding on a Jets punt early in the fourth, which gave the Dolphins the ball at the New York 39-yard line. Six plays later, Miller scored the game-tying touchdown from 4 yards out.
